Worldwide Music News from The Steel City

Along with full sets from Rancid and the Murphys, the two bands will come together onstage each night for a special joint encore.

Rancid and Dropkick Murphys have a long and important history together. Back in 1997, Rancid‘s Lars Frederiksen came across a copy of Dropkick Murphys‘ original EP at a friend’s house. He turned it over to his bandmate and Hellcat Records president Tim Armstrong, who quickly snatched up the band for his new label.

“Rancid is looking forward to hitting the road with our brothers the Dropkick Murphys,” says Rancid‘s Tim Armstrong. “We will end the night with DKM and us playing songs together. Look out for The Bouncing Souls, The Selecter, Kevin Seconds and Jake Burns to be on certain shows. SEE YA IN THE PIT!”

Rancid‘s Lars Frederiksen says, “It’s a long time coming with these two bands touring together. There is so much history between both of us that it should make for a great tour. We look forward to seeing all of our friends and family out there.”

Dropkick Murphys‘ Ken Casey comments, “This is a dream come true for Dropkick Murphys. Hopefully all the people coming to the shows will feel the same way. Rancid gave us our break — Timsigning us to his label, Lars producing our early albums…so much history and great memories. Now, literally sharing the stage together every night. This tour is going to destroy all others this summer!!!!”

The roots of Rancid are traceable back to Operation Ivy at 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley, CA. circa 1987. After Operation Ivy broke up, Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman went on to form Rancid. In 1993, they signed with longtime producer, and label founder, Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion and Epitaph Records, who would stay on with the band for the next 20 years as the band’s producer. Rancid (Tim Armstrong, Lars Frederiksen, Matt Freeman, Branden Steineckert) has stayed independent. They have their own independent booking agent, they’re on an independent record label, Hellcat/Epitaph, and they make their own t-shirts. 2017 will see the release of Rancid‘s ninth studio album.

Dropkick Murphys are touring in support of their 11 Short Stories Of Pain & Glory album, released through the band’s own Born & Bred Records earlier this year. The album debuted at #8 on the Billboard Top 200 and was the #1 independently released album. There’s a feeling of purpose throughout the album, influenced by the band’s work with The Claddagh Fund, a charity the band established in 2009 to help support addiction recovery as well as children’s and veterans’ organizations. Dropkick Murphys—Al Barr, Tim Brennan, Ken Casey, Jeff DaRosa, Matt Kelly, James Lynch—are hands-on in raising funds, mentoring, and lending a helping hand with veterans, youth sports, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Many of the songs reflect these experiences, and the band’s sadness, anger and dismay at the opiate epidemic ravaging the country — in particular, Boston and New England — and also their feeling of pride and optimism at the sight of those who have turned their lives around. Dropkick Murphys have become ambassadors for their city. In Boston, it seems like everybody knows someone connected to the band whether by blood, friendship, or the time they shared a brew at a Bruins game. They’ve built a legacy that does Beantown proud.